Difficulty getting a criminal record check

[ar_mokonen]

I'm currently sponsoring my husband to come to Canada, and I have a quick question regarding the criminal record checks that he needs? It says he needs one from every country he's lived in for over 6 months since the age of 18...He's lived in 3, and two of those won't be a problem, but the country where he grew up (though wasn't born there and not living there currently), it would be virtually impossible for him to get any kind of police check there, as he left basically as a refugee, and it's an extremely closed country. Would it be sufficient to just include a letter explaining this? Has anyone else been in this sort of situation? Thanks!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Which country?

He should still attempt to get the PCC. If he can't, then he can show his efforts and write a letter of explanation.

 

[canadianwoman]

Agreed. He should do whatever this page on the CIC website says to do to get a police certificate from the country in question.
How to get a police certificate: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp

He should document all his efforts to get the certificate. Then, if it turns out that he cannot get it, he should write a letter of explanation about how he tried, and the proof, with his PR application.